Grainfather

[Martin]

Guys, do you know if the new pump filter is included in the MK2 version or is this optional? I received mine last week, had the first Grainfather brew day today and I have to say I'm everything but impressed. I took me 10 hours until I could  pitch the yeast mainly because of the massive problems with the pump filter ( the old one ) which was completely blocked by the pellets, also I had to clean the valve, remove and clean spring inside like four times. The wort was only dripping very slowly so the coolig wasnt effective at all... For now I hate that thing

I used about 90g of pellets in total, graifather support says this shouldn't be an issue. Next time I should use the hop bags I guess

The dealer told me this is the newest version but has the old pump filter?

P.S The efficiency was still 7 points higher than expected and the clarity wasn't bad either.

[Simon_]

The new filter is a big improvement. That sucks that they are still selling models with old filter. I'd like wager that if you got in touch with the imake/ grainfather and told them you just bought one with the old filter they'd replace it for free

[Hefeman]

Guys, do you know if the new pump filter is included in the MK2 version or is this optional? I received mine last week, had the first Grainfather brew day today and I have to say I'm everything but impressed. I took me 10 hours until I could  pitch the yeast mainly because of the massive problems with the pump filter ( the old one ) which was completely blocked by the pellets, also I had to clean the valve, remove and clean spring inside like four times. The wort was only dripping very slowly so the coolig wasnt effective at all... For now I hate that thing

I used about 90g of pellets in total, graifather support says this shouldn't be an issue. Next time I should use the hop bags I guess

The dealer told me this is the newest version but has the old pump filter?

P.S The efficiency was still 7 points higher than expected and the clarity wasn't bad either.

I did a handful of brews with mine and the first couple were disasters (initially milling too fine, even had terrible trouble with the HBC kit that came free with it which I ended up dumping at 2am!), next one I ended up chilling with my old immersion chiller after blocked pump, again at 2am.
On my last two brews I was ultra careful, first I used hop bags hanging from the side clips and removed them prior to
chilling. This worked well and got good flow out to the FV. This was an SNPA clone so not exactly a stress test.

On my last one after considering that others say they don't use hop bags I used about 140g of pellet hops with a 6.5kg grain bill. All went fine until chill time, I turned on the pump but got no flow. Then I turned off the pump,  removed the  recirculation arm and with my mouth blew into the outlet pipe resulting in bubbles passing up through the wort (a trick I read on this forum). When I turned on the pump I then had an acceptable flow (though slower than I would like).

Note that I tried a whirlpool before chilling as recommended by GF but this seemed to do nothing as I had a flat layer of trub at the bottom and a concentration of caked hops around the pump filter.

Hope this helps, stick with it I feel your pain!

BTW Can you confirm your filter is inline with the pump outlet, not perpendicular? I bought mine before Christmas and got the new filter and grain stopper.

[DEMPSEY]

Did the Liffey Brew day and all went well except for the cooling stage. 60 grams of hops total but the flow return going back to the grainfather slowed to a trickle. I stopped it and whirlpooled the wort and started again but after awhile it slowed again. It eventually got to around 34 C but the slow rate had the trickle at 15 C so I transferred to the fermenter. Too slow for that part of the time. Only other issue I had was getting to full boil but that was because we were out in the cold back yard,will need a jacket for outdoor

[Leann ull]

Guy has a template in Jims for a jacket Mr. D and affiliates sell em as well

[Pheeel]

90g of pellets is nothing for the GF. I never whirlpool (and i don't recall them saying you should)

[DEMPSEY]

Just looked at the grainfather youtube clip and he only waits to cool the wort temp to 20 C or so and transfer straight to the fermenter. Do any of you return the wort to the grainfather and so chill all the wort in place before you transfer.

[Simon_]

I only do that if want to drop a little for a hop stand. Otherwise I just go straight into the fermenter. Chilling is most efficient when the temp difference is greatest. Nothing is gained by recirculating.

[Roo]

This is an email I received last week on the blocked filter

Hi Ruairi,

Sorry to hear of the issues that you are having the problem with hops in the Grainfather. Are you stirring the wort into a whirlpool prior to starting the pump? This helps create a filter layer over the pump filter. There is a good explanation of this technique in the Weekly Mash section of our website.

We are hoping to have the hop spider back in stock by the end of April

Best Regards,
David

Kind Regards

Dave
Technical Advisor

[Martin]

@ hefeman - yes, the filter is inline with the pump outlet.

@ all. thanks for all the answers. So, I guess I have to buy a hop spider a a new pump filter   Now, I have to say I am seriously disappointed with the GF. I did everything as in the GF video and encountered massive issues with the pump, filter and valves, my brew day was a 10h brewing disaster .

I mean I paid 850 euros for that thing that was supposed to make my brewing faster, less work, and more pleasant. Instead it ruined my Sunday and the chances of wort infection are quite high after all what I had to do in order to get the pump and valves to work again. Now I have to buy a hop spider and a new pump filter and pray to God every time I brew that the pump doesn't get blocked.

I also got the GF Insulation coat, and guess what? Its 2 cm to short, one end of the velcro fastener doesn't reach the other so impossible to wrap the coat around the vessel properly.

The only thing that really works as supposed is the sparge water heater    I should have saved more money and go for the Braumeister.

[Acott]

I bought a hop spider in the recent group buy...a worthy investment! Did a brew last Monday, 125grams in total used, chilled and in to the fermenter in roughly 20mins! Recipe called for a hop stand, I just recirculated the wort through the spider when sanitising the chiller to get the most out of the hops. I have the old hop filter so no need to buy a new one once you have the spider.

I should have saved more money and go for the Braumeister.

Don't worry, I remember my first brew day with the Grainfather was a nightmare...I now have my brew day down to between 4 and a half to 5 hours. I'm exceeding numbers and making stress free beer...honestly you just need more brew time on it, it really is a great piece of kit once you know the ins and outs and get your flow down!

[DEMPSEY]

Does anybody recirculate back to the grainfather and chill the whole lot before transfer to the fermenter.

[Hefeman]

Does anybody recirculate back to the grainfather and chill the whole lot before transfer to the fermenter.

That isn't necessary but I think it is recommended to recirculate for a few mins just to sterilise the recirculation arm.

[DEMPSEY]

Aah haa that's were I went wrong on my first outing so. My old system has a counterflow and a chugger pump and I would pump the fook out of the wort and back to the boil kettle thus cooling all before going on to the fermenter. Need retraining I doe's 

[molc]

I've always been a fan of recirculating back to the BK, as you cool the whole body of wort at the same time, which retains more of the hop aromas from what I understand. I do it with a plate chiller and get from 100-17 in 15 minutes.